Monday, October 28, 2013

Battle of Newtonia, Missouri -- October 28, 1864


The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on October 28, 1864. The conflict came near the end of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's celebrated invasion of Missouri. With the Federals still in hot pursuit of Price's retreating Confederates, Maj. Gen. James Blunt observed Price's rear elements ahead of him on a prairie south of Newtonia and ordered a charge. Brig. Gen. Joseph Shelby saw the approaching enemy and immediately sent his division forward to meet them. Outnumbering Blunt, Shelby pushed the Federals back to Newtonia and nearly flanked them. The late arrival of reinforcements saved Blunt's column and allowed a brief counterattack at sunset. Both sides claimed victory. 

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